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Urbanization is responsible for some negative environmental consequences, including soil contamination by heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). At the same time, urban soils can buffer HMs and perform as geochemical barriers. For the case of Moscow city, the soil contamination by multiple HMs as well as soil buffer capacity was analyzed, mapped, and considered to assess urban soils as geochemical barriers. Comparison with the health standards indicated contamination by different HMs in 30–60% of the observations, and Zn and Cd were the most widely spread contaminants. “Hotspots” of contamination were shown in the central and eastern districts of Moscow with the most intensive traffic and congregation of industries. New spatial patterns were shown for soil performance as geochemical barriers to multiple HM contamination. High buffer capacity of loamy and slightly alkaline soils in the city center with high contamination level resulted in a better performance of soil geochemical barriers compared with some green zones and natural areas where low buffer capacity of loamy sandy and slightly acid soils were not enough to resist even relatively low contamination. The capacity of urban soil to perform a geochemical barrier for contamination by HMs is an important ecosystem service. Spatially explicit information on this ecosystem service can be highly relevant to assess environmental and health risks of urban soil contamination and to support decision making in urban planning and sustainable development.

Field excursions and trainings are considered a key component of education programs in soil and environmental sciences. They allow mastering students’ practical skills in sampling and onsite assessments and improve understanding of ecosystem integrity and complexity. Urbanization has a substantial impact on soil properties and functions; however, field courses focused on urban soils are rare. We present a didactic prototype and the outcomes of the “Monitoring, Modeling, and Management of Urban Green Infrastructure and Soils (3MUGIS)” summer school—the first educational tour observing anthropogenic soils and landscapes along the bioclimatic gradient in European Russia, from tundra to dry steppes. Didactic learning was based on a studying‐by‐doing approach; students were involved in environmental assessment in multiple regions varying in climatic and socioeconomic features. Considering the high spatial heterogeneity of urban ecosystems, we used express techniques (portable X‐ray fluorescence, infrared gas analyzers) for onsite soil analysis at multiple replicas. The data collected were discussed with local and international experts from Russia, Germany, the United States, and France in the context of regional environmental problems (e.g., pollution, soil degradation, and urban expansion). Students discovered zonal changes in vegetation (e.g., increasing tree height and diversity from north taiga to forest steppes) and soil properties (e.g., a gradual increase in pH and changes in soil organic C), as well as urban‐specific processes and features (e.g., urban heat island effect or soil artifacts). The overall student feedback was very positive (50.8% excellent, 36% good); some specific organizational issues will be addressed for future 3MUGIS summer schools.